The Alternative Press

WEST ORANGE, NJ - The public is invited to the West Orange Recreation Department's Annual Achievement Luncheon on Saturday, Feb. 23. The event will be held at the Toby Katz Community Center in Degnan Park beginning at 1:00 PM, and individuals who have made significant contributions to community recreational and sports programs will be honored.  This year’s honorees are Andrew Mazurek, Gerry Heugle and Steve Quirk.        

Mazurek made his mark as a community volunteer in the sports of football and baseball.  He got his start as a Flag Football coach with the West Orange Recreation Department and soon moved over to the West Orange Police Athletic League. He coached the Junior Pee Wee’s football team from 1996 through 2004. The 1999 squad captured the Mountain Valley Championship. At the helm of Walter Baumans, Andrew’s PAL baseball teams were perennial playoff qualifiers and captured the championship in 2002. Along the way, Mazurek found time to return to the WO Rec to coach a number of summer All Star baseball teams. Mazurek' s Jr. Pee Wee PAL Football Team had an undefeated season in 2012.

Huegle is the quintessential “man behind the scenes.”  For the past 22 years he has been the senior architect for the Township of West Orange.  No recreational or sports project in the community has proceeded without his insight and hard work. Jerry’s list of successful projects include the upgrade to the Kennedy Fieldhouse at Colgate, the new Stagg Fieldhouse, renovations to both the Toby Katz Civic Center and the Lafayette Fieldhouse, upgrades at O’Connor Park, improvements to the bleachers at Suriano Stadium, the installation of field lights at West Orange High School and a multitude of upgrades and improvements at Ginny Duenkel Municipal Pool.

Quirk is the outgoing president of the Mountain Top League. For the past 16 years he has been a guiding force in the MTL’s youth soccer program. Steve started in 1996 as a little kickers coach and quickly became involved in the travel soccer program. He has served as an assistant coach, a head coach and as the Travel soccer president and trustee. Currently, he is the head coach of the Hotspur squad as well as the secretary for the very successful Fall Tune-Up Tournament. Prior to his stint as MTL president he served as vice president for four years. 

Each of these well deserving guests will be honored at the luncheon.  A $20 donation is asked at the door.  Parking is provided in the tennis court lot in Degnan Park. In case of inclement weather please call the Recreation Department Weather Hotline at 973-243-1115.